Nipple-grip



WV.'P`. STRICKLAND.

v NIPPLE GRIP. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 2o, 1920.

1,393,920. Patented oct. v1S, 1921.

f/VVZNTE W Pff/110007Z@ ATTE/5 UNITED STATES WILLIAM P. STRICKLAND, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

NIPPLE-GRIP.

Application led November 20, 1920.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM P. STRICK- LAND, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Nipple-Grips, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in nipple grips, and it consists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a device for engaging a spoke of a bicycle or the like and the spoke nut thereon to permit operation of the latter without subjecting the device to a lateral stress.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described that can be adjusted quickly and easily to operatively engage work of varying sizes.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described that comprises comparatively few parts and is therefore durable and can be used indefinitely in service.

A further u object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described that is simple in construction and operation, can bev manufactured cheaply, and is thoroughly practical commercially.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this ap` plication, in which Figure 1 is a view of the device operatively applied,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device,

Fig. 3 is a section along the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

I am aware that many tools of the same character as my device have been provided prior to my invention. Such devices are composed of a comparatively great number of parts and are therefore liable to be broken under ordinary service conditions. Furthermore, such devices are subjected to a lateral stress when a spoke nut or nipple there` on is operatively engaged. My device consists of a body portion having integral arms forming jaw members and therefore cannot be broken easily. In addition, my device Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 18, 1921.

`Serial No. 425,512.

has means for gripping a spoke nut without being strained laterally.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a body portion comprising a web 1, having integral arms 2 and 3 formed to provide jaws 4 and 5 respectively at the ends thereof. The arms 2 and 3 are normally substantially parallel. The body portion is made of a. material such as spring steel having suflic-ient inherent resiliency to permit the arms 2 and 3 being moved under stress toward each other and to insure that the arms 2 and 3 will swing back to the initial position when the stress is removed.

Obviously, the arms 2 and 3 can be moved by any force sufficient for that purpose to cause the jaws 4 and 5 to engage opposite sides of a spoke nut or nipple 6 or the like that is thereupon gripped between the jaws. In order to maintain the jaws 4 and 5 in operative position with respect to the spoke nut 6, I provide an adjusting bolt 7 that is projected through registering openings 8 and 9 extending transversely through embossed portions 10 and 11 of the arms 2 and 3, respectively, adjacent the ends thereof. The bolt 7 has a non-circular head 12 arranged to enter a slot 13 in the side edge of the arm 3, wherefore rotation of the bolt 7 is prevented. A. jam nut 13 screwing on the threaded end 14 of the bolt 7 provides a convenientJ means for occasioning a movement of the arms 2 and 3 relative each other and for maintaining the same in adjusted position.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. The device is placed in the position shown in Fig. 1 relative a spoke 15 of a bicycle wheel or the like. The spoke 15 is threaded at 16 and has the usual spoke nut 6 screwing thereon, the outer end of the spoke nut 6 being fianged at 17 for engagement with a rim 18 of a. bicycle wheel, this being the conventional construction. The spoke 15 is tightened or loosened by turning the spoke nut 6. Vhen the device is applied thereto in the manner shown, the nut 13 is operated until the spoke nut 6 is firmly gripped by the jaws 4 and 5. At this time, the web 1 will be maintained in a desired position relative the spoke 15 by means of an integral hook 19 that is positioned to intersect the plane equi-distant between the Y contacting with the bolt 7 is received within the groove 21, which is of sufficient depth to prevent lateral stress being' placed on fthe device 15 when the same is operatively applied7 as illustrated in Fig. 1. Consequently, the operation of the' device occaf sions no strain of the spoke 15 or its conneclikely to be broken.

tions with the rim and hub of the wheel, or of the device itself. Y The device is simple in construction, effective for the purpose intended, and can be used in service for an indefinite length of time. Since the jaw members are embodied in the same body portion, the device isnot It-will be noted that the jaws 4 and 5 have their ends beveled atQO-QO and that the beveled portions thereof taper rearwardly as shown. The device cantherefore be turned to adjust the spoke nut without being moved into engagement with the circular inner wall Vof the rim or felly 18.

I claim: 1. A device of the character described comprising` a body portion having substantiallyy parallel arms formed to providerjaws at the forward ends thereof and having a hook at the rearward end thereof positioned to receive a portion of the work disposed between said jaws, and means for adjusting said jaws relative each other to grip work of varying sizes placed therebetween and for maintaining said jaws in adjusted position. Y

2. Ak device of the character described comprising a Vbody portion of resilient material having, substantially parallel arms formed to provide jaws at the forwardends thereof and having a hook at the rearward end thereof positioned to receive a portion of the work disposed between said jaws, and

means for adjusting' said jaws relative each other to grip work of varying sizesl placed therebetween and for maintaining said jaw in adjusted position.

3. A device of the character described comprising a body portion having substana't Vthe forward ends thereof and having a hook at the rearward end thereof positioned to receive a portion of the work disposed betweeny said'jaws, said jaws having beveled ends tapering rearwardly, and meansV for adjusting said jaws Vrelative each other to grip work of varying sizes placed vtherebetween and for maintaining said jaws in adjusted position. Y Y

4;. A device of the character Ydescribed comprising a body portion having substantially parallel arms formed to provide jaws at the forward ends thereof and having a. hook at the rearward endthereof vpositioned to receive a portion of the Vwork disposed between said jaws, a non-rotatable bolt pro` jected through registering transverse openings through said armsy adjacent said jaws, and a jamnut screwing on tlieend of said bolt for adjusting vsaid jaws relative keach other to grip workpositioned therebetween. 5. A device of the character described comprising a body portion having substantially parallel arms formed to provide jaws at the forward ends thereof andV having a hook at the rearward end thereof positioned to receive a portion of the workdisposed between said jaws, saidy arms being formed with registering transverse openings therethrough adjacent said jaws, a non-rotatable bolt projected through the registering transverse openings through said arms, said bolt having the portion thereof extending between the adjacent .sides of said arms grooved to receive a portion of the work positioned between the jaws, and a ,jam nut screwing on the end of said bolt for adjusting the jaws to grip the work to permit operation thereof without subjecting the body portion to a lateral stress.

WILLIAM r. srnioiimnn.

Ytially parallel arms formed tol provide jaws `I 

